Specifications
| Brand: | Valley Yarns |
| Yarn Weight: | Worsted |
| Designer: | Valley Yarns |
| Craft: | Knitting |
| Format: | Downloadable PDF |
| Languages: | English |
| Notes: | Stitch markers including 2 in a unique color, cable needle, tapestry needle, 6 (6, 7, 7, 7) (7, 7, 7) ¾" diameter buttons, sewing needle and thread to match buttons, locking stitch markers (optional - for pockets). |
| Number of Patterns: | 1 |
| Pages: | 10 |
| Skill Level: | Intermediate |
| Finished Size: | To Fit Bust: 32½ to 60½" |
| Techniques and Construction: | Buttons, Cables, Seamed, Worked Flat |
| Needles Required: | 5.00mm (US 8) & 5.50mm (US 9) Circular Needles |
| Pattern Code: | 1246 |
| Featured Products: | Valley Yarns Becket Yarn - Alpaca Worsted |
What you'll need
1 Select Size
2 Select Colors
Valley Yarns Becket Yarn - Alpaca Worsted
Dark Teal (12)
Out of stock — not added to kit
× $8.99
3 Accessories
Product Description
Valley Yarns Sonora is a fantastic A-line women’s cardigan coat that will become your cool weather favorite knit in Becket. The sweater features deep double seed stitch cuffs, front bands, and a stunning collar with a large-scale cable pattern running up each front panel and sleeves. You also have the option of patch pockets. Sonora is knit flat in one piece from the bottom up to the underarms. The collar stitches are picked up along the neck edges and front bands and knit back and forth in rows. The optional patch pockets are worked separately and then seamed to the fronts. Becket is a customer favorite in the Valley Yarns line, and its scrumptious blend of super fine alpaca and wool has us all ready to put it to work. The cable pattern is charted and written out.
Skill Level: Intermediate
Sizes: XS (S, M, L, XL) (2XL, 3XL, 4XL)
Finished Measurements: Shown in size XS with suggested 2–4” positive ease
Bust – 32½ (36½, 40½, 44½, 48½) (52½, 56½, 60½)” with the front buttoned
Hip – 38½ (42½, 46½, 50½, 54½) (58½, 62½, 66½)”
Length – 28½ (29, 29½, 31, 31½) (32, 33½, 34)”
Yarn Requirements: 7 (8, 10, 11, 12) (13, 14, 16) balls Valley Yarns Becket (50% Superfine Alpaca/ 50% Wool; 100g/141yds) shown in 12 Dark Teal
Needles: Note – The shortest circular needle will be needed for sleeves in the smallest sizes
US 8 (5.00mm) 24–40” and 12–24” circular or DPNs (for collar and sleeve cuffs)
US 9 (5.50mm) 24–40” and 12–24” circular or DPNs to get gauge
Gauge:
16 sts and 22 rows/rnds = 4” in stockinette stitch on US 9 (5.50mm), blocked
20-st cable panel = 3½” wide on US 9 (5.50mm), blocked
This pattern was updated on 01/20/2023. View errata here. If you purchased the PDF version, the newest version is available in your pattern library.
Valley Yarns Sonora Cardigan: A-Line Knit Coat with Cable Details
What Is Being Made
The Sonora is an intermediate-level knitted cardigan coat designed by Julie Turjoman. This A-line garment features an overlapping front closure with button bands and is crafted from Becket, a luxurious alpaca and wool blend yarn. The design offers a sumptuous, cool-weather silhouette available in sizes XS through 4XL, with finished bust measurements ranging from 32½ inches to 60½ inches. The cardigan is shown in Dark Teal and includes optional patch pockets for added functionality and visual interest.
Knitting Techniques Used
The Sonora employs several key construction techniques that contribute to its polished appearance and structured fit:
- Worked Flat: The cardigan body is worked back and forth in rows from the double seed stitch hem up to the armholes, allowing for precise A-line shaping throughout the torso.
- Seamed Construction: Pieces are seamed together, creating clean, professional-looking joins that enhance the garment's tailored aesthetic.
- Cable Work: A single large-scale cable panel is featured on each front panel and on both sleeves, creating bold visual impact and adding textural dimension to the design.
- Button Closure: The overlapping front closure is secured with six or seven ¾-inch diameter buttons (depending on size), worked together with the body during construction.
- Top-Down Sleeve Construction: Sleeves are worked down in the round from the armholes with decrease shaping, providing a comfortable, well-fitted sleeve cap.
- Collar Pick-Up: Collar stitches are picked up along the bound-off neck edges and front bands, then worked back and forth in rows for a shaped, elegant neckline.
Stitches and Stitch Patterns
The Sonora showcases a variety of stitches that work together to create visual and textural interest:
- Double Seed Stitch: This reversible, textured stitch is used for the deep cuffs on both sleeves and the front bands, adding an elegant, refined detail that frames the cardigan. Double seed stitch also appears at the hem, creating a polished foundation for the garment.
- Stockinette Stitch: The primary stitch for the body, sleeves, and collar, providing a smooth, classic canvas that allows the cable work to stand out.
- Cable Stitch: A 20-stitch cable panel measuring 3½ inches wide creates the signature large-scale cable design on the front panels and sleeves, adding dimension and visual impact to the finished garment.
Materials and Gauge
The Sonora is designed to be worked with Valley Yarns Becket, a premium yarn blend composed of 50% superfine alpaca and 50% wool. This combination creates a sumptuous, fast-working yarn that produces a luxurious drape and warmth. Yarn requirements range from 7 balls for the smallest size (XS) to 16 balls for the largest size (4XL), with each ball containing 100 grams and 141 yards of yardage.
The pattern calls for US size 9 (5.5 mm) circular needles in 24–40 inch and 12–24 inch lengths, or double-pointed needles, for the main body and sleeves. US size 8 (5.0 mm) needles in the same lengths are used for the collar and sleeve cuffs to create a tighter, more defined edge. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 22 rows per 4 inches in stockinette stitch on US size 9 needles, blocked. The 20-stitch cable panel should measure 3½ inches wide when blocked on US size 9 needles.
Additional materials include a cable needle for managing cable stitches, stitch markers (including two in a unique color for pattern tracking), a tapestry needle for weaving in ends, and a sewing needle with matching thread for attaching buttons. For those choosing to knit the optional patch pockets, locking stitch markers are recommended to secure live stitches during construction.
Fit and Sizing
The Sonora is designed with 2 to 4 inches of positive ease, meaning the finished measurements are slightly larger than typical body measurements for a comfortable, relaxed fit. The A-line shaping creates a flattering silhouette that skims the body at the bust and gradually widens toward the hip, with hip measurements ranging
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